I’ve been beating up on AT&T a bit lately for their practices that basically punish users (early adopters) of their Unlimited Data Plans. The most recent punishment was when iOS 6 was introduced, Apple finally allowed for FaceTime calls over Cellular on iPhone 4s, iPhone 5 and iPad 3 (or higher). However, once again AT&T said NO to this if you were one of the original iPhone users still grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan. This is the 3rd time in recent history that AT&T has crippled a feature that the device or os could do, just because you weren’t on one of their “newer” ie. non-unlimited data plans. The first one was when iOS supported tethering. Unlimited data plan users still can’t access or add this feature even if they are willing to pay extra for it without leaving their unlimited data plan. The 2nd one was when the iPad allowed tethering and once again AT&T was silent on this issue for all users. Lastly there was the FaceTime over Cellular feature that once again AT&T said NO to all but those on their newest Shared Data Plans. I get it. AT&T wants users to move off those Unlimited Data Plans and they are trying to force the issue by basically crippling the features that your device can do. Is it fair? NO. Do you have a choice? Yep, you can switch plans or switch carriers and that’s exactly what I did with my iPads. Any cellular capable iPad I buy, I now buy the Verizon version. The irony is that back in the day Verizon was the carrier that played these games by disabling features like bluetooth on certain handsets. However, Verizon has changed their ways somewhat and now they say come on it.

AT&T may have changed their tune too

It appears that at least for some, starting yesterday AT&T has quietly been turning on FaceTime over Cellular for All users (iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPad 3, etc. on iOS 6). There are several reports that users simply turned their iPhones off and back on again and either the feature was already turned on or they were able to enable it without the familiar blue message I still get above. These users that have it working are all claiming that they are on a grandfathered Unlimited Plan. However, there are just as many users like me where the feature still isn’t enabled yet. So perhaps it will take time for it to roll out to all or perhaps it was a mistake, fluke or still not available for “all” users (ie those on Corporate Unlimited Data Plans), but time will tell. If this feature does roll out to all, It will change my attitude towards AT&T to be a bit more favorable than it is right now, and it truly would be a Happy Tech Thanksgiving.

Does it work for you? Did you power your iPhone down and back on again? Are you on the original Unlimited Data Plan? What state are you in? (keep in mind you have to be on iOS 6 and an iPhone 5, iPhone 4s or iPad 3 or higher).

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Wow, thank you as I had no idea AT&T was working on this! I’m on the original unlimited plan and after reading your post I just had to try and see if I was one of the “lucky” ones. I just turned the wifi off and tried to FaceTime a friend and it worked!! I’m on an iPhone 4s with iOS6 in Utah. I powered off my phone yesterday for a separate reason so I didn’t power it down again before I tried to FaceTime.

As always, LOVE your blog! Thanks!

http://gravatar.com/whinde whinde

iPhone 5 recently updated to 6.0.1 powered off still no facetime over cellular for me

Greg

Original unlimited plan in Southern CA. No dice here (yet).

Lance Hankins

Original unlimited data plan, 4s phone in Alaska. Tried Facetime first without powering down. No dice. Did a reboot (not a power down.) Still didn’t work. Powered down – I have to say this is probably the first time since I’ve owned this phone it has ever actually been turned off. I’ve rebooted it, but not powered off. (Don’t tell the airlines that, please…) Voila! it works now Yay! I have several friends who have bugged me for a long time to use Facetime with them but without being able to do it away from a WiFi network it wasn’t practical. Now they’ll be able to see my mug while we chat! I suspect now that they’ll have to look at me they’ll want to go back to regular phone calls…

Your blog is great! Keep these tips coming!

tony

Original iPhone user, Poulsbo WA, other side of Sound from Seattle. Didn’t work over cellular when I tried it. Read the article. Powered Off. When powering up, it works. I have Facetime over At&T. Very cool article. Thanks. I am one of the lucky ones.

Duane Ronan

Dallas, TX, iPhone 4S, Unlimited plan, Turned phone off and on but no luck for me

Thedigitaldoc

When I tried to activate facetime with cellular, iphone 5 asked me to call ATT. I talked to ATT and they said right now only those on a shared mobile data plan can facetime with cellular ONLY to those on the shared plan. Absurd. Maybe in the future for unlimited data plan people like me. ATT sucks as usual.

John

Not working for me, here just west of Chicago. I’m on the original unlimited plan and just got a new iPhone 5. I get the blue “call” screen. Sounds like a fluke, to me, for those that have it operating.